From: Clifford Cain - uk yahoo <cc_syorks@yahoo.co.uk>
To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Rooting black currants
Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:26:35 +0100
I received the following tip regarding rooting blackcurrants
Cut the hardwood cutting to approximately 6inches/15cm in length and
insert into gritty compost either in the ground or pot. The cutting
should be set obliquely / at an angle of 45degrees or so with two buds
above the ground. (I have used my prunings from October pruning here in
the UK)
The reason for this practice is to encourage the formation of a more
bushy plant in the first year. Frequently an upright cutting roots but
only grows the leader. When grown on the angle they produce 2-5 shoots.
When planting out plant about 3-4inches / 7-10cm deeper than they where
and cut back to a couple of buds and a more substantive bush obtained.
With regards to the Ben series of blackcurrants, these have been
produced by SCRI, the Scottish Crop Research Institute, in Dundee on
the east coast of Scotland just north of Edinburgh. Their work has
mainly centred on producing blackcurrant varieties for Beechams (now
GlaxoSmith Klien) for Ribena production (blackcurrant juice).
A list of their cultivars can be found at
http://www.fruitbreeding.co.uk/BlackcurrantVarieties.asp
I have a habit of growing plants in pots to take to shows and talks but
have found that vine weevil love currant roots. My winter routine now
includes removing the dormant plant from the pot, washing all soil off
and repotting.